Back to the Drawing Board

I don't know how I got back to my room. I may have walked back, ran back, hopped back, or may have crawled back. Somehow I ended up in my room. I'd rather call it a chamber since it'll sound fancy and suitable.

I was sitting in a cushioned armchair with my right hand on the arm of the chair and my left hand holding my aching temple. Flora was standing a few feet away from me looking so worried. It was a typical set-up where anyone who sees the situation will feel bad for that poor girl who is standing.

I raised my head to look at her once. Once again, I could see that brightness arising from her. She was undoubtedly incredibly beautiful. She looked simple and sweet, and of course, naive. How did I miss this? I should've guessed it earlier.

This girl named Flora was one of the most beautiful women I came across. She possessed a face that naturally proclaimed her innocence. Unlike my almond-shaped eyes, she had a pair of round eyes. The colour of her eyes was one of the rarest green. Her lips were full and rosy. Her facial features were delicate, unlike my strong features and gave her a sweet, naive look.

She was almost the same height as me and a bit leaner than me. Her brown wavy hair cascaded in the most beautiful way possible and was longer than mine.

We both were so different.

Now I felt so ashamed since I had already plunged in and broken my nose because of my overconfidence. I sighed looking at her. Why did I even believe in that when life or luck had never been on my side? 

"Flora, sit down!" I told her. "You've been standing for a very long time."

She smiled at me, kindly! "Your Highness, you should take care of your health now," she replied. If it was me, sitting down would have been my priority. I couldn't help but nod since I understood the differences between both of us.

I'm self-centred, thus I can never be her! At that point, I started to wonder how come Flora is still a maid? Why she is not married to Edward yet? What's going on?

Suddenly, as if she had been possessed, Flora hurriedly walked toward me. She paused then hurriedly told me that she needs to see the royal physician and bring the medicine for me. I just nodded. She darted back to the door and disappeared. Once again, I tried to figure out the situation.

Flora was still a maid. Since, the character I'm representing was still alive, that naturally meant that the major inciting incident of the plot is yet to happen. Of course, that is my character's death!

Edward who is usually a cold person will go to the absolute zero temperature once his sister is killed. That was also the major character development point for both the leads. Since he loves his sister so much, like a madman he would search for the criminal. At last, he will assume the princess's maid as the killer.

Then they'll meet!

Then he'll marry her!!!

Oh yeah, he married her. I understand your confusion. Why would he marry his sister's killer? Well... That's how Venus included the revenge tag for her novel.

Edward could've put her in the prison, banished her or killed her. But he chose none of those but to marry her to punish her!

When I was reading the novel, I didn't think much of this decision. I felt happy as they were going to get married! But now, that I think of it, I feel curious and slightly furious. 

I'm the sister who was dead! How can I rest in peace, If my brother married the prime suspect of my murder? I could imagine my soul floating here and there at their wedding, asking 'Am I a joke to you?'!

If I get the opportunity, I'd definitely ask Edward about this. But to ask this, the plot should happen. Then I would be already dead. I sighed and went to the balcony. I needed some fresh air. I started to go further with my thoughts as I looked out at the beautiful lake and gorgeous swans. Positivity spread inside me!

'There may be a way out for me since I know the future!' I thought. Before that, I had to figure out what will happen next. If only I could survive this danger, this life would be an ideal one for me. Eventually, I was lost in my thoughts.

'Thud... thud... thud...' I heard someone approaching me from behind. I woke myself up from my trance. I apprehended that it was a strong boots sound. I turned. A handsome, young man was standing in front of me. 

He was not just a handsome man. If I had to describe him in one word, I think the word 'adonis' would suit him the best. He was naturally handsome, like a superstar.

When he stepped forward, I realized that he was a lot taller than me.

He was squinting his sky blue eyes at me and furrowing his invariably fine eyebrows. His straight nose closely resembled the noses of the Greek gods' statues. His well-defined jawline was in a tightened state and his fine lips were tightly shut, proclaiming his adamant nature. His fine blonde hair was tidily combed in a similar way to a classic comb-over hairstyle. It gave him a noble, princely look. Still, he looked like someone hard to please and looked unhappy for some reason.

With him being so serious, I felt the urge to ask "What's wrong, boy?". But I had to suppress this instinct since he looked like someone in a higher position. His well-embellished navy blue tunic, white trousers, and white cape with silverwork thread proved that he is not someone I should mess with.

"Little sister, are you okay?" he broke the silence first.

'Little sister! Goodness!' I didn't need any additional information to understand who he was.

'Edward!'

In shock, I forgot to reply. I was his fan for a very long time. This was the face I have been longing to see. Although many other fans went crazy over the shmexy villain, I always stayed in 'team Edward'. In other words, I remained unaffected till the end by the so-called 'second lead syndrome' given they considered the villain as the second lead also.

Edward was cruel, arrogant, adamant and at times stupid! Still, most fans like me believed that these were his charms. Even now, his tightly shut mouth gave him a majestic aura. It was indeed nice to see.

"Sister, I will never let you get hurt!" he added.

'Oh yeah?' I couldn't help but lift my eyebrows in amazement.

'Then where was he on the day she died?' I couldn't help but secretly smirk.

"You are my sister. I'll always protect you. So don't worry!" he talked so seriously!

'Ah. These lines are exactly foreshadowing my demise in the future!' I frowned. 'Besides, do you necessarily have to make him emphasize that I'm his sister?' I complained in thoughts to the Almighty. But I have already moved on from this crush. I was already ready to embrace fate.

"Brother, I'm fine!" I replied to him with a sweet smile. He just looked at me once then nodded.

"I have to meet the prime minister now, sister. I'll be going then."

"Ok brother! Take care," I forbade him goodbye, still with a smile. Once he moved out of the room, I went to bed and lay on my back looking at the paintings on my ceilings.

"This place, these people and everything seem so nice! If only I could live...."

"Your Highness!" Flora entered the room obstructing my thought process. "I've brought the medicine!" she handed over the porcelain vessels in her hand. "Drink them, your highness!" 

'I was suddenly taken aback. What if it was that day! What if I die once I drink this?' I couldn't drink it anymore.

"Place this in a fridge.... place this on that table. I'll drink this once I wake up from my sleep," I replied to her.

"But the physician asked to drink this immediately!" she told me. I looked at her and shook my head in disagreement. "I'll throw up if I drink this now!" I said.

"Then..." she hesitated, "I'll do as Your Highness says." 

"Now, you may leave!" I told her. She smiled! When she almost reached the door, I stopped her. Since my mind was thinking about death, death, and death, I suddenly remembered witnessing those flying pigs. I died in a pig's year in my world. Since I'm someone who plays mystery-solving games often, I was able to find the connections between events naturally!

"Flora, what year is it?" I asked her. She worriedly looked at me then replied, "It is the year of the ox, your highness!". After thinking for two more seconds, she continued, "It's better if you could drink the medicine," she said.

'If I drink the medicine now, I'd probably get to see flying oxen,' I thought! I smiled back, "I'll drink, don't worry," I assured her. Once she left the room, I grabbed a few pieces of paper and started to write the key points I gathered all along.

How could I sit and wait for a grim reaper to tear my soul away? I had to do something about it. What I needed the most at that moment was a plan. Since I'm already dead in my real world and this is my second chance, it's imperative for me to live.

I gathered all the information mentioned in the novel from my memory. It was not that difficult for me since I was a nerd for 'Romance, please!' I recollected them and marked those important facts on that piece of paper using ink. It was a time-consuming task and I started to miss every ballpoint pen and pencil in my world. Still, I was too reluctant to be lazy and continued my work.

I divided the characters and wrote down their names and characteristics. I tried to remember and draw the regional map of Astrana that Venus had shared on her Twitter account. Also, I wrote down all the events that happened before my character's death. By following this method, I could foresee the future to some extent. To tell the truth, I almost got a hold of my current situation.

I continued to remember even the smallest facts, and descriptions but what came to my mind surprised me! It was a piece of good news. Actually, a very good one!

I still remembered chapter three of the 'Romance, please' novel. That chapter was about a new year festival. In that chapter, Edward and Flora will brush past each other without actually meeting.

When I was reading it, I wanted them to meet so badly, but they didn't. Now that I think of it, I couldn't understand the purpose of that chapter. Edward only gets to meet Flora in chapter twenty-seven after his sister's death.

'Maybe Venus wanted to leave us yearning for more. She wrote a chapter like that!' I convinced myself. Just because I spent a few more minutes pondering over that particular chapter, I found something interesting. In the description of that new year festival, it was mentioned that it was the year of rabbits! If that's the case, it is a bit advantageous to me! That meant I got two more years to stay alive and prepare my defence.

'Two years! That's a lot of time!' I muttered. With this discovery, I vowed to make full use of these two years. I continued to write more facts from the novel then found out some other interesting formulas as well. There may not be pure good or pure evil in the real world. But in novels, you can find plenty of pure good and pure evil characters.

I differentiated the good ones from the evil ones. I took a note of people whom should I be careful around and I could be careless around! Once I'm done with creating a perfect relationship tree of these characters by dividing them into two categories, I came up with a master plan. I spent the whole day devising this strategy and in the evening, I went to the royal pond with some other maids to take my bath!

Of course, I hadn't bathed yet!